documentation for LO base

users
#21

Am 06.10.2012 21:34, Wolfgang Keller wrote:

Huh?

Access is a pathological data shredder.

Not as bad as Base's default type of database. This part of Base is not
even a valid proof-of-concept. The whole concept is dysfunctional by
design and nobody dares to stop this madness.
Just like MSAccess, Base is extremely useful as a frontend for database
engines. You must not use the built-in JET engine with Access. HSQL is
an excellent platform independent database engine but you must not embed
HSQL in extensions which are installed and repackaged every time you
"open" or "close" the so called "database document".

#22

The following mail was sent about 10-days ago.
I picked the address from the e-mails I receive from other list-members.

Even I did not get it back through the list nor was it bounced from somewhere
hence sending again.

This is the last time.
Sorry for the trouble.

/* *************************************** */

Hi,

I am new to Open source *.* (OS, environment, office, Banshee, wvdial, the works....)

I recently moved my excel spread-sheets to calc.
I am still going through files/features-check post the translation.
Most of the data, formula, and formatting are okay, fonts are better.

In the charts I observed:
1. The full worksheet as chart in excel are converted to embedded charts in those sheets (no full charts).
2. Legends are peculiar. They are named as "column?" and not any text string that I would like to give.

Is this the way Libre Calc is implemented or I can get back to chart as worksheet in itself and legends of my
liking without being restricted to the first column/ first row?

Also, is the system info below sufficient for posting here or anything more is advised?

Any pointers would be great help.

Thanks,
Viral Orpe

#23

1. The full worksheet as chart in excel are converted to embedded charts in those sheets (no full charts).

I don't think that feature is available in Calc.

However, you may move your chart (by cut and paste) onto a separate sheet, of course.

2. Legends are peculiar. They are named as "column?" and not any text string that I would like to give.

That “Column ...” is shown only when you deselect “First row as label” but don't specify any other text as legend label.

To change the legend text in your chart, go to the “Data Series” dialog.

  If not done already, switch chart into edit mode:
    double click on chart

  Then:
    “Format” menu
    → “Data Ranges...”
    → “Data Series”

There you can for each data series select “Name” and then enter into the “Range for Name” field either
  - a string in double quotes "like this" or
  - a reference to a cell that has the text you want

-rl

#24

Just like MSAccess, Base is extremely useful as a frontend for
database engines.

The last time I tried to run a non-trivial query (involving a join) from
Access against PostgreSQL, the result was a never-ending cursor
animation. It seems that Access fetches *all* records from the database
and runs the query locally.

You must not use the built-in JET engine with Access. HSQL is an
excellent platform independent database engine but you must not embed
HSQL in extensions which are installed and repackaged every time you
"open" or "close" the so called "database document".

"Embedding" databases anywhere is imho nonsense. Database *content* can
imho be passed around between users in a pretty fool-proof way as a
zipped SQL dump, if required.

Sincerely,

Wolfgang

#25

In general I am of the impression that Calc and Excel have some limitations when converting from one into the other. I recently also observered some problems with charts but had no time to write them down, thus I don't remember details sufficiently to list them here. Just don't be surprised about loss of functionality etc. I used LO 3.5.6.2 or the 3.4.5 release at that time on XP SP3.

A chart as one sheet is, like Rolf mentioned, not a feature of Calc - that is a pitty.

ROSt

#26

Hi.

In general I am of the impression that Calc and Excel have some limitations when converting from one into the other. I recently also observered some problems with charts but had no time to write them down, thus I don't remember details sufficiently to list them here. Just don't be surprised about loss of functionality etc. I used LO 3.5.6.2 or the 3.4.5 release at that time on XP SP3.

A chart as one sheet is, like Rolf mentioned, not a feature of Calc - that is a pitty.

ROSt

The following mail was sent about 10-days ago.
I picked the address from the e-mails I receive from other list-members.

Even I did not get it back through the list nor was it bounced from somewhere
hence sending again.

This is the last time.
Sorry for the trouble.

/* *************************************** */

My mail is hosted by google, for some reason my posts to the list do not show to me. Possibly something to do with the way google labels mail (some logic like it's in my sent box so why put it in my inbox also when the list sends it back). I just have to assume if mail to the list is not rejected it must have got there.
Steve

#27

Hi :slight_smile:
Perhaps Viral Orpe is not properly subscribed to the list?  Perhaps he/she used a different email account that is supposed to filter mails through to the main one he/she uses?

When you subscribe to these lists there are a few options you can choose.  One is for the list to cleverly NOT to send you emails that you sent from your own address.  you already know what is in the email and it's in your out-box so why would you want a duplicate copy?  That is the thinking anyway.  You can change that setting but i'm not completely sure where the instructions are.  Happy hunting! 
Apols and regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#28

Hi :slight_smile:
I keep forgetting about this one even though i have added it to the Publications page
https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/Publications
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#29

Hi
I have found that a good source of documentation for LO base is found in
some of the
documentation written for OO Base. I've been using Marano Casanova's
excellent work
available at Base_tutorial.pdf (application/pdf
Object)<https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/images/0/02/Base_tutorial.pdf>.

#30

Hi :slight_smile:

Thanks for your time and replies.
I could stop fighting calc to show me the chart as a single worksheet!

I was charting the stock market data (available in daily doses to be bunched neatly in weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly batches) in candlestick form.
Both Excel and Calc do not allow any other lines on the candlestick charts (moving averages, e.g.).
It robs the ease of analysis (and make me dependent on some websites that offer it - currently for free :slight_smile: but I never liked the dependence)

I read somewhere* what Shakespeare wrote of vaulting ambition :slight_smile:
Since, I have no spur to prick my intent, as of today I can't start vaulting onto tweaking CALC source code to add a new chart type.

But, it would be fun and a taste + test of the Linux promise of free(dom)!
Hope I reach the promised land one day.

Any pointers are welcome.

again, thanks for your time,
regards,
Viral Orpe

p.s.
*Vaulting Ambition :slight_smile:
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/macbeth/soliloquies/blow.html

(spur: I know just C, data structures, and presently am learning shell scripting.
Nothing about Linux kernel/ internals and have never written software in a
professional team)

#31

Have you tried to overlap several charts with different types?. I think this is possible if you set for each, the background of the the graphics area, as 100% transparent. Even more, you can use the result of the cells below the chart as part of it.
Miguel Ángel.

#32

I am not acquainted with a candlestick chart. Is it perhaps a bar graph?
      I am also wondering why a database is not used for this? Queries can be created to manipulate the data which can then be linked to a Calc spreadsheet. Then the charts can be created for this. This is likely to take some detailed planning, but it might be worth it.

--Dan

#33

I once used a charting program (chartmaster) that allowed adding of series once the chart was first defined. Each time you added a series you could define the presentation (line, bar, x-y, scatter).
This way a chart could be made up of as many types as desired. If you wanted a straight line across your chart you just defined a 2 point xy series as line type.
You could add series from different columns and different files. This was a proper charting program and not a graphical representation of some selected spreadsheet data.
Steve

#34

I agree.

I use it at the office for time registration and invoicing. At home for
the Taekwon-do club membership.

It's actually marvelous in combination with postgresql SDBC driver. And
actually useful as it is so easy to get your data to Calc, more useful
then I remember Access.

It always hurts a bit when people who don't use databases say that Base
is not good, databases are not useful etc.

I know a lot of people that never use a spreadsheet either. But I think
LO wouldn't be complete with Calc or Base.

My experience: de builtin hsql backend was very slow last time I tried,
sqlite unusefull, mysql OK but I couldn't find anything like PG Admin to
administer it.

So, if you have the choice, go for postgresql.

Ferry

Wolfgang Keller schreef op za 06-10-2012 om 21:34 [+0200]:

#35

I agree.

I use it at the office for time registration and invoicing. At home for
the Taekwon-do club membership.

It's actually marvelous in combination with postgresql SDBC driver. And
actually useful as it is so easy to get your data to Calc, more useful
then I remember Access.

It always hurts a bit when people who don't use databases say that Base
is not good, databases are not useful etc.

I know a lot of people that never use a spreadsheet either. But I think
LO wouldn't be complete with Calc or Base.

My experience: de builtin hsql backend was very slow last time I tried,
sqlite unusefull, mysql OK but I couldn't find anything like PG Admin to
administer it.

mysql workbench (available from Oracle) works well with MySQL/MariaDB

#36

Back in my Mainframe days, I had to write a General Ledger Accounting system in COBOL [not my choice] with a "master" database file[s] used for more than just accounting. If anyone wants to choose to say packages like Base is not good or some other negative term, ask them to try and write the database package from scratch with programming languages that are not designed to be a "flexible" as the modern object-oriented languages.

I have not used Access since 2000 or 2003, so I have not used Base, except to try it once and awhile.

To be honest, one reason why we do not have much Base documentation is the simple fact that there are not as many people out there that know Base well enough and can write documentation. It is much easier to find Writer and Calc documentation, since more people use it and understand it better than Base. That does not mean that Base is not a good package, just one that it not used as in-dept by as many people as the other parts of LO.

#37

Could you possibly post somewhere an example of a candle stick chart?

#38

Hi :slight_smile:
I assumed he meant a bar-graph but made it sound more interesting.
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#39

Hi :slight_smile:

Thanks for all the responses....

I have tried to respond collectively here.

/* ******************** */

Miguel Ángel:

#40

Candlestick charts

The wikipedia link was helpful.
I think that what you want to use is called in Calc chart type "stock". There are 4 different sub type shown. The second from left looks very much like the chart in the wiki link.